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357 greyhounds injured, 124 killed at tracks around Ireland in 2017
22 February 2018
Shocking new statistics show that 357 greyhounds suffered injuries and 124 were destroyed at tracks around Ireland in 2017. The figures, published in response to a parliamentary question from Clare Daly TD, reveal the awful extent of suffering in the cruel greyhound industry.
Figures for 2017 previously highlighted by ICABS, related to just the first ten months of the year. These latest January-December statistics confirm that dogs suffered and died from the beginning to the end of the year.
They sustained injuries to legs, wrists, shoulders, backs, tails, muscles and toes. The Irish Greyhound Board's death data includes a track-by-track list of the numbers injured as well as the "number of greyhounds PTS [put to sleep] by vet at track".
It is suspected that the huge numbers of "REPORTED" injuries and deaths in the IGB list does not cover all the injuries and deaths that occurred.
Earlier this month, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed admitted that statistics previously presented by the Irish Greyhound Board are actually incomplete. The admission by the Minister means the level of suffering in the greyhound racing industry is likely to be even worse than previously thought.
Further to a Dail Question from Clare Daly TD last November, the IGB provided documents which they claimed "contains details of greyhounds euthanised by track veterinarians and details of greyhound injuries AT EACH TRACK since Bord na gCon [Irish Greyhound Board] began recording such information in July 2014."
However, in a follow-up Dail Question to Minister Creed, Clare Daly TD queried the data. Referring in particular to the Lifford and Enniscorthy greyhound track statistics, she pointed out that some of the columns in the documents were left blank.
Responding, Minister Creed stated: "Bord na gCon has informed me that retrospective records are not available at the privately owned Lifford and Enniscorthy stadia. However race injury information will be available going forward at these stadia."
The reported injuries and deaths are just the tip of the iceberg. An estimated 10,000 Irish greyhounds go missing each year, presumed killed when found to be too slow to win races.
The Irish Council Against Blood Sports is urging the general public - as well as fundraising charities, GAA clubs, schools and community groups - to show compassion for the dogs and stay away from tracks. We are also renewing our call to the government to stop propping up this cruel industry with taxpayers' money. Despite it being obvious that this is a dying industry with plummeting attendance, huge drops in race sponsorships and tracks making substantial losses, politicians have this year handed over another €16 million of scarce public funds to the Irish Greyhound Board, bringing the total paid out since 2001 to almost a quarter of a billion euros.
Greyhound Injuries and Deaths
January - December 2017
| Track | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| CLONMEL | 11 | 03 |
| CURRAHEEN PARK | 21 | 08 |
| DUNDALK | 44 | 10 |
| ENNISCORTHY | 18 | 04 |
| GALWAY | 24 | 10 |
| HAROLD'S CROSS | 02 | 01 |
| KILKENNY | 08 | 03 |
| LIFFORD | 10 | 06 |
| LIMERICK | 46 | 19 |
| LONGFORD | 13 | 05 |
| MULLINGAR | 71 | 16 |
| NEWBRIDGE | 17 | 04 |
| SHELBOURNE PARK | 21 | 10 |
| THURLES | 10 | 03 |
| TRALEE | 24 | 15 |
| WATERFORD | 10 | 06 |
| YOUGHAL | 07 | 01 |
Overall Injuries And Deaths: 2017
Injuries: 357 Deaths: 124
Overall Injuries And Deaths: 2016
Injuries: 427 Deaths: 139
ACTION ALERT
Don't attend greyhound races or fund-raisers held at greyhound tracks (these are a significant source of funding for the greyhound industry).
The cruel and crumbling greyhound industry has received nearly a quarter of a billion euros of taxpayers' money since 2001 (including €16 million for 2018). Urge Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to end funding to the greyhound industry. Email "Stop funding the cruel greyhound industry" to taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie, paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie, minister@per.gov.ie
Urge Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to end funding to the greyhound industry.
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Tweet to: @campaignforLeo
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignforleo/
Paschal Donohoe TD
Minister for Finance
Email: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie, minister@per.gov.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1 6045810
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaschalDonohoe/
Tweet to @Paschald
Please sign and share our petition
Irish Government: Stop Giving Millions of Euro to Cruel Greyhound Industry
https://www.change.org/p/irish-government-stop-giving-millions-of-euro-to-cruel-greyhound-industry
Why you should say NO to greyhound track fundraisers
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